Skier Sarah Burke of Canada in a file photo.

Photograph by: Doug Pensinger
, Getty Images

Canadian freestyle skier Sarah Burke remains in critical condition Thursday after a successful operation to repair a tear to an artery that caused bleeding between her skull and brain.

The doctor who performed the operation, William Couldwell, says the medical team must "observe the course of her brain function before making definitive pronouncements about Sarah's prognosis for recovery."

Burke, a four-time Winter X Games champion in halfpipe skiing, injured herself while practicing on the halfpipe in Park City on Tuesday.

“Our Neuro Critical Care team will be monitoring her condition and response continuously over the coming hours and days,” said Couldwell.

Burke’s Facebook page and Twitter account (@sarah_j_burke) has been inundated with get-well messages from friends, teammates and fans since news of the accident went public Tuesday afternoon.

“Whistler is pullin' for ya Sarah! We've seen all the amazing stuff you can do. You got this one too! Sending lots of healing energy to you,” wrote Angie Nolan on Burke’s Facebook page.

Burke, who grew up in Midland, Ont. and moved to Whistler, is a pioneer in women’s freestyle skiing and a trailblazer in getting women’s ski superpipe into the X Games, at which she is a four-time winner

She was also instrumental in getting the superpipe into the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, where she is expected to contend for a gold medal if she is healthy.

A few weeks before the 2010 Olympics, while she was still struggling to get her sport included, Burke said in an interview with The Associated Press that it was frustrating to be on the outside looking in.

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